Robbing my traps

[Atchman2]

Okay,

I've been setting my traps for a week now. Only caught one raccoon, but shot some coyotes near them! I'm thinking the bait is too easy to steal. I dug the bait holes deeper today. Do you think that will help?

Atchman2

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[pressfit]

Dig them 18 inches deep if you can.. the longer they stay at the set trying to go the bait the better the chance you have at catching them.

 

[Atchman2]

Thanks! I'll get my post hole diggers out. [emoji16]

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[Atchman2]

Okay,

I dug the holes a little deeper. Probably 10" or so with my post hole diggers. Still they are stealing the bait! Foot prints are all over the place but my traps aren't sprung. Is it a lightweight critter? I'm going to put cameras on the three that are being robbed and just see what is getting my bait. I suspect either a fox or a coon.

Just frustrating to get nothing despite the fact i KNOW there are critters around

 

[TnHoss]

What tension do you have on the pans ?

 

[pressfit]

Post hole digger? Just how big of a hole are you digging? Normally a 3-4 inch diameter hole will work just fine.. google some coyote dirt hole sets.. I'm telling you.. 18" deep and they probably won't be stealing your bait..

 

[TnHoss]

If you don't have a hole punch you can use a narrow blade garden trowel just try not to get the hole any wider than the trowel. I wouldn't go any less than 12" deep and 16" to 18" is better.The longer you keep them around the trap working the bait the better your chances are of catching them.

 

[TnHoss]

Another tip that I just remembered and it will be easier than a trowel, get a piece of 3/8" rebar at least 2 ft. long and drive it in the ground at least 12" or more and work it around in a circle making the opening a little wider. Then put your bait in the hole and use a stick to push it deeper.

 

[Atchman2]

Thank you folks for helping a beginner. You guys are great! My latest theory is that where my traps are set, the ground is just too wet. They maybe pushing the trap down instead of setting it off. I'm going to Google traps in wet areas. They are obviously coming back to the traps. I have time today to put out a couple of cameras and I'll keep my "teachers" informed.

 

[fishboy1]

try and get a good clear photo of the tracks and post it.

 

[Atchman2]

I'll try looks like raccoon tracks to me and maybe some fox tracks


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[Atchman2]

Today I put out some raccoon traps leading up to where my coyote sets are deployed. Only thing on the trail cameras this week are coons and a single coyote.

 

[Atchman2]

I put out another camera, this one on the sites that are being robbed. Though I dug the holes much deeper, they still are not deep enough I feel. Hopefully we'll have some pictures of the culprits tomorrow.

I did put out some raccoon traps. The coons took all the bait above the triggers and didn't reach down to trip the traps! Going to try something like peanut butter on the triggers I think. Time is wasting!

 

[TnHoss]

Don't put bait in a DP on top of the trigger. The bait goes under the trigger and a little goes a long way.

 

[Atchman2]

Don't put bait in a DP on top of the trigger. The bait goes under the trigger and a little goes a long way.

Thanks! Did not know.

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[pressfit]

I have stuck a big marshmallow on the trigger.. kinda sounds like nice getting the bait.. most of the time a coon won't stop until it's cleaned out..

 

[Atchman2]

I put a camera facing down the trail just to see what was happening. One of my traps, was tripped. However, no blood or fur, so it must have been a clean miss. Anyway, there was a coyote there!

 

[Atchman2]

Probably the bait robber.